Koichi Saito, who served as an assistant to the renowned photographer Tadahiko Hayashi during his university years, developed a deep connection with China after participating in the first Sino-Japanese youth exchange program in 1965. Over the years, he visited China more than 80 times, capturing the transformations of cities such as Suzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing.
This photo collection, taken in Beijing between 1995 and 1996, vividly documents the city’s ever-changing pulse beneath its seemingly tranquil surface. As one flips through the pages, the diverse individuals who once roamed the streets appear almost tangible—yet they remain as distant echoes of a bygone era.
